Profiling attachment for machine tools



July 3 1-, 1928. v 1 1,678,651

J. M. RIORDAN PnoFI me ATTACHMENT FOR uAcnmt're oLs Filed March 22. 1922 5 Sheets-Shet 1 July 31, 1928. 1,678,651

J. M. RIORDAN PROFILING ATTACHMENT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed March 22, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v canto l1 WWWYM July 31, 1928.

J; M..RIORDAN PROFILING ATTACHMENT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed March 22. 1922 5 sheets-sheet '3 J. M. RIQRDAN PROFILING ATTACHMENT FOR MACHINE TOOLS July 31. 1928.

- Filed Mar'ch 22. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet July 31, 1928.

, J. M. RIORDAN PROFILING ATTACHMENT FOR momma TOOLS Filed March 22, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill IIIII I Patented duly 31, 1928.

SATES PATENT OFFICE.

Joan M. are

OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND HARD- WARE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PROFILING ATTACHMENT FOR MACHINE TOOLS.

Application filed March 22, 1922. Serial No. 545,637.

This invention relates to a profiling attachment for machine tools such as shapers, planers and the like. l

The object of the invention is to provide a profiling attachment which will enable 1rregular surfaces such as forging dies, trimming, bending dies, etc., to be readily machined to the desired contour.

The attachment constituting the sub ect matter of this invention involves a templet- Whose outline corresponds to the outline of the work-piece to be produced, and a tracer which is designed to travel along the surface of the templet. Additionally the attachment includes means whereby one ofthese parts, generally, and referably the templet is maintained in fixed relation to the work or to the part carrying the work while the other part, generally, and preferably the tracer, is maintained in fixed relation with respect to the tool as far as movement of the tool toward and from the Work is concerned as it is adjusted to make its cutting edge travel in the desired path to produce the-article of predetermined contour corresponding to the contour of the templet.

In its more specific embodiment, the invention comprises a templet holder which is maintained in fixed relation with respect to the work so as to travel therewith as the saddle or other member carrying the work is adjusted in the normal operation of the machine, and a tracer which bears a fixed relation to the tool so far as the adjustments thereof are concerned, which are made during the normal operation of the machine, together with means so supporting the tracer or the tracer carrying member as to allow the tool to travel back and forth in its repeated cycles, one for each line of out.

In another specific aspect, the invention resides in the means operated and controlled by the relative motion between the templet and tracer for automatically adjusting the tool so as to cause it to be moved in one direction or the other while the tool is making its usual cutting strokes and while the work carrying member is constantly shifted,

so asto automatically produce a piece of work machined to the desired contour.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details, and combinations of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

holder may be raised and lowered by In the accompanying sheets of drawings I have shown one embodiment of my inven tion applied to a machine tool in the form of a well-known type of shaper, and in the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the shaper showing my improved attachment; Fig. 2

is a front view of the same; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the tracer. and its mounting showing the manner in which electrical contact is made for the automatic control of the tool; Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a magnetic clutch device'which is utilized in raising and lowerin the tool holder; -Figs. 6 to 13 are views 0 details of the device shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 6 being a top plan view of the magnet housing; Fig. 7 being a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the same, the section being on the line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 being a sectional View of the same along the line 88 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 being a plan view of the lower bevel gear of the device of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 being a side view of the same with part in section; Fig. 11 being a side view with part in section of an upper bevel gear of the device; Figs. 12 and 13 being respectively a plan view and a side View with part in section of one of the two cone members of the clutch; Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the magnetic chuck connections.

Referring now to the drawings, the shaper here shown has a bed 10, at the front of which is a saddle 11 which travels along sa'ddleways 12 being adapted to be acuated automatically or by the hand wheel 13 in the well-known manner. The saddle is the part which carries the work and may be provided with any suitable work holder here shown in the form of a so-called vise 13,

which in Fig. 1 is shown as gripping a work piece 14, such for example as a block of steel from which a forging die is to be formed. At the top of the bed is a reciprocating ram 15 provided at the front with a verti-v cally movable tool holder 16 here shown as provided with a cutting tool 17. The tolpl t e usual hand operated adjusting screw 18.

The shaper so far described is of the usual form, and per se forms no part of the present invention.

Taking up now my attachment it includes a bar 20 or auxiliary saddleway which in this instance extends laterally from the bed of the machine parallel to the saddleways .12.

On this bar there is slidably mounted a templet holder 21 which carries a templet 22 which may be and preferably consists of a flat plate or sheet of metal whose upper edge 22 corresponds to the contour to be machined on the work piece 14. This templet holder has a pair of forwardly projecting ears 21 which receives the outer upper end of a curved arm 23 which at its lower front end is rigidly attached to one side of the saddle 11 for the work holder. Inasmuch'as this arm 23 is rigid and inasmuch as the uper outer end of this arm has a close fit in etween the projecting ears of the templet holder 21 it will be apparent that as the work holder and its saddle are moved laterally in either direction across the front of the machine in the normal operation thereof the templet holder and templet are slid along the horizontal arm 20, and therefore have a fixed relation with respect to the saddle, work holder and work.

Secured to the front of the tool carrier 16 is a laterally projecting arm 25 to which is secured a rearwardly extending bar 26 which 'reciprocates or moves back and forth with the ram, tool holder and tool in a plane at right angles to the templet supporting arm 20, and when the tool holder and tool are moved up-and down on the ways provided at the front of the ram this bar 26 moves up and down always maintaining, a fixed or definite relation with the tool holder. At its rear end this bar 26 is guided for relative sliding movement and for movement up and down with the tool holder by a guide 27 supported by the ram.

Supported by and extending upwardly from the latera ly projecting arm 20 which supports the templet holder is a bracket 28 having. vertical ways 29 (see Fig. 3) on which is adapted to move vertically a tracer holding block 30 having an opening 31 (see particularly Fig. 4) through which the bar 26 is adapted to slide as the ram is reciprocated. This block 30 is thus supported by the bar 26 though the latter slides relatively to it and therefore the block moves up and down with' the bar when it is moved vertically by the vertical adjustment of the tool holder 16. I

Secured in a socket or recess on the under side of the block 30 is a tracer body casing 32 (see Fig. 4:) and supported by a flanged collar 32 at the bottom of the tracer body casing 32 is a tracer 33 which is adapted to travel over the top'edge 22 of the templet 22 as the tem let is moved laterally with the saddle 11. he tracer proper is secured in the tracer body at which has near its lower end a flange 34: which normally rests on the inturned flange of the collar 32 as shown in Fig. 4:, but the tracer 33aiid tracer body 34 may be elevated slightly and the tracer body is supported in a manner such that the tracer and tracer body may rock relative to the tracer casing 32 if there is side pressure on the point of the tracer. At the upper part of the tracer body 34 there is mounted an L-shaped insert 35, and bearing down on the top of this insert 35 with predetermined pressure is a coil spring 36 carried in a socket at the top of the tracer casing 32.. The under side of the top part of the L-shaped insert 35 is beveled and this is engaged by the top of the tracer body 34. This L- shaped insert 35 likewise extends downward beneath the top of the tracer body 34, and in this part there is a notch receiving the inner relatively short end of a rocking finger 37 pivoted at 38 in the opening of the tracer block 30. This finger serves the double function of a movable contact and indicator. The relatively long end of the finger 37 is adapted to move up and down between and to engage a pair of contacts 39 which are carried in spaced relationship by an arm 40 secured to the block 30 as best shown in Fig.

Thus it will be seen that when the tracer is moved upwardly by the pressure of the templet on the lower point of the tracer, or if it is rocked laterally by predetermined lateral pressure on the point of the tracer as when the tracer engages an abrupt elevation in the contour of the templet the outer end of the finger 37 is moved downwardly so as to cause it to engage the lower contact 39. On the other hand, when the point of the tracer moves out of contact with the edge of the templet it is moved downwardly to its lowermost position by the spring 36 and by gravity swinging the outer end of the finger 37 upwardly and causing it to engage the upper contacts 39.

Before taking up the electric and automatic control of the tool holder whereby it is adjusted up and d0wn,.I wish to point out that during the normal operation of the machine tool, the templet will be moved along with the work holder and will at all times maintain a certain definite relation to it. At the same time the point of the tracer stands at the top edge of the templet, its height having at all times a fixed relation to the position of the cutting tool. The automatic tool adjusting mechanism which I have provided causes the point of the tracer to have a constant, or substantially constant relation to the top edge of the templet, elevating the tool when the templet is elevated by a raise in the top edge of the templet, and lowering it when the top edge of the templet has a saddle carrying the work holder and work are moved laterally in the normal functioning of the machine.

An automatic tool adjusting mechanism is preferably employed, and I wish to make clear at this point that the mechanism so far described may be used advantageously even though the automatic mechanism is not employed, for if it be desired to adjust the tool carrier by hand, the operator would only have to watch the position of the finger 37 with reference to the points 39 to enable him to see readily whether the tool should be raised or lowered. Therefore, by keeping his hand on the tool adjusting hand wheel and watching the finger 37 he 1s enabled to cause the work piece to be machined to the desired contour much more easil than he could obtain this result by keeping his eyes on the tool and work piece. a

I prefer, however, that the adjustment of the tool be done automatically so that when once a machine has been setup the work piece will be machined without requiring the constant attention of a workman. The automatic tool adjusting means is mounted on the ram just at the rear of the tool holder 16, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This part of my invention includes an. annular housing 42, and extending centrally through this is a short vertical shaft 43 (see Fig. 5) which is provided at the bottom with a pinion 44 which drives an intermediate or idler pinion 45, which in turn meshes with a pinion 46 which surrounds and is splined to the screw 18 by which the tool holder 16 is adjusted vertically. That is to say, when the shaft 43 is rotated so as to rotate the pinion 46 through the pinions 44 and 45, the shaft 18 will be rotated in one direction or the other, and this will raise or lower the tool holder 16 just the same as if this shaft were turned by the hand wheel at the top thereof. V

' Mounted on the shaft 43 and normally turning loosely thereonin opposite directions there is an idler bevel pinion 54. It will be seen, therefore, that when the motor is in operation the two bevel gears 47 and 48 will rotate at the same speed but in opposite directions freely on the shaft 43, assuming that the magnetic clutch is de-energized.

Taking up now the construction of the magnetic chuck, and by referring particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that this chuck includes an annular body 7 having a central hub portion which may be termed a coil holder 55, shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. This coil holder has a central opening 56, into which is driven'with a tight fit an annular member 57 (see Fig. 5) which engages, for convenience 1n assembly, a shoulder 56 on the inner wall of the opening 56. This annular member 57 lies between the hubs of the bevel gears 47 and 48 and serves as a spacer therefor. The inner part of this annular member is connected by a key 58 to the shaft. This coil holder carries in this instance eight magnet coils, one of which 'I have shown at 59 in Fig. 5. These magnet coils are arranged in regularly spaced openings 60 fourof which face upwardly and four facing downwardly, this being apparent from a consideration of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, Fig. 6 showing four of the upwardly facing openings by solid lines, and by dotted lines the four downwardly facing openings.

Each magnet has a core 61, which is secured in a relatively small opening. 62, one of which is provided in the wall at the base or bottom of each opening 60. Thus it will be seenthat one-half of the magnet coils and one-half of the cores project upwardly, and that the other half project downwardly.

Arranged at the top and bottom of the magnet holder 55 are two annular clutch members 63 and 64, one having a downturned flange 63 and the other having an upturned flange 64 at its periphery, these flanges being beveled on their inner surfaces and adapted to engage correspondingly beveled surfaces 55 at the top and bottom portions of the magnet holder 55. The upper clutch member 63 rotates with the upper bevel gear 47, and the lower clutch member 64 rotates with the lower bevel gear 48, and in this instance the driving connection is obtained between each bevel gear and its associated clutch member by driving lugs 63" and 64 secured to the inner faces of the gears and engaging in depressions or notches on the adjacent faces of the clutch members. One of these recesses or'notches I have shown at 64 in Fig. 13, and both are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 12.

It will be seen from the above, that normally the bevel gears 47 and 48 rotate in opposite directions, and they rotate also in opposite directions the clutch members 63 and 64, but until one set or the other of the magnets of the chuck are energized, the intermediate clutch member including the magnet holder 55 is stationary, and when this magnet holder isstationary, the shaft 43 is stationary. However, when the set of upwardly facing magnets is energized, the upper clutch member 63 is clutched thereto, and causing it to rotate ,in one direction, and thereby causing the wardly facing magnets is energized, the

lower clutch member is clutched firmly thereto, causing the intermediate clutch member or magnet holder 55 to rotate with it, and causing the shaft 43 to rotate in the reverse direction.

To render this magnetic clutch effective to turn the tool holder screw 18 up or down, one set of magnets will be connected to one of the contacts 39, and the other set will be connected to the other contact 39. Though the connections can be made in various ways, in Fig. 14 I have shown a simple. way wherein represents the conductors of a direct current system. One of these conductors is coimected by a conductor 66 to the swinging finger 37. The two contacts 39 are connected by conductors 67, each to one set of the magnets 59, the four magnet coils of each set being serially connected,

and both sets being connected by a conductor 68 to the opposite main current supplying conductor 65.

Thus it will be seen that when the templet tilts it, the finger 37 will make contact with the lower contact point 39 and cause the energization of that set of magnets which causes the tool to be elevated, and when the templet moves away from the tracer so as to let it drop, and then to a slight degree become clear of the templet, the other set ofmagnet coils is energized, which will cause the tool to be lowered in accordance with the requirement of the contour of the templet.

Thus it will be seen that the finger 37 will swing up or down and cause the tool to be lowered or elevated in accordance 'with depressions or elevations in the top edge of the templet, but this finger in fact seeks a neutral position between the two contact points, and when the tracer is traveling over a flat surface of the templet, the finger is out of contact with both contact points, and the clutch is de-energized, the clutch being energized only when the contour of the templet opposite the tracer requires that the tool be raised or lowered. I

It is to be noted that the tracer 33 is attached to the tracer body 34 by being screwed therein and is locked in position by a jam nut 33*. This permits the tracer to be readily adjusted as when it is desired to take successive cuts. That isto say, if the workmanafter making what may be termed a roughing cut over the work piece, desires to make a finishing cut, the tracer will be elevated in the tracer body a distance equivalent to the thickness of the cut to be taken.

I have in this application-described only the preferred construction, but it is to be understood that many changes may be made in construction and arrangements of the parts, and I therefore do not desire to be and tracer, one to movements in a single plane and the other to movements in the same plane, means for imparting to the holders two relative feed movements in directions angular to each other and to said path of travel and for moving the templet and tracer, and means for maintaining said feed movements proportional, one to the movements of the templet and the other to the movements of the tracer.

2. In combination with a machine tool having relatively movable work and tool holders and means for imparting a reciproeating movement to one holder, a profiling attachment comprising a templet and a tracer cooperating therewith, means for constraining the templet and tracer one to movements in a single plane and the other to movements in the same plane, means for imparting to the holders two relative feed movements in directions angular to each other and to said path of travel and for movingthe templet and tracer, and means for. maintaining said feed movements proportional, one to the movements of the templet and the other to the movements of the tracer. 3. In combination a machine tool having a work holder and a reciprocating tool holder, means for feeding the tool holder up and down and said work holder laterally, a templetsupported by the work holder for movement therewith, a tracer engaging the templet and having a carrying member movable along the templet, means for constraining said carrying member to movement in the plane of movement of the templet, and means connecting said carrying member to the tool holder for imparting to the carry ing member amovement corresponding to the feed movement of the tool holder.

4. In combination with a metal workin machine having a work holder and a too holder, one of said holders being mounted for reciprocating movement relative to the other, said holders having'also two-relative feed movements 'in directions angularly disposed one with respect to the other, a pro filing attachment comprising a templet carrying member havinoa templet thereon, a tracer carrying member having a tracer Ill) till

engaging the templet, means for supporting the templet carrying member from one holder and the tracer carrying member from the other holder and for imparting movements to the templet and tracer carrying members corresponding to the feed movements, and means for restraining the member supported by the reciprocating holder against reciprocating movements with said holder.

5. lln combination with a machine tool having a work and tool holder which have two relative feed movements and a relative movement at an angle to the feed movement by which the position of the tool with re.- spect to the work ma be Varied, whereby a facing cut may be ta en, a profiling attachment comprising a templet and a tracer, means for causing said templet and tracer to have relative movements in the same plane corresponding to the two feed movements, and electrical means controlled by the tracer for controlling one of the feed movements. 6. The combination with a machine tool having a work holder and a tool holder, mechanisms for causing said holders to have two relative feed movements, one of said mechanisms being power operated, of a profiling attachment comprising a templet and means for imparting thereto a bodily movement corresponding to one feed, a tracer carrying member and means for imparting thereto a bodily movement corresponding to the other feed, a tracer movably mounted in said member and engaging the templet, and means operated by the tracer for controlling the power operated feed mechanism.

7. In combination with a machine tool having a work holder and a tool holder adapted to be reciprocated and to be given a feed movement at right angles to the direction of reciprocation, a profiling attachment comprising a templet and a tracer, and means for supporting the tracer comprising a reciprocating bar carried by'the tool holdor and a tracer carrying member through which the bar slides and supported so as to partake of the feed movements of the tool holder.

8. In combination with a machine tool having a work holder and a reciprocating tool holder with a feed at right angles to the direction of reciprocation, a profiling attachment comprising a templet having a definite position with respect to the work holder and a tracer co-operating therewith, and means for supporting the tracer comprising a tracer carrying member, a guide therefor b which said member may move in the direction of feed of the tool holder, and a bar attached to the tool holder so as to have movements corresponding to the reciprocating and feed movements of the tool holder, said bar slidingly engaging the tracer carrying member.

9. In combination with a machine tool having a work holder and a tool holder wherein one reciprocates relative to the other and wherein one has a feed in one direction and the other a feed at right angles thereto whereby a facing out can be taken over the surface of the work, a profiling attachment comprising a templet so supported as to be maintained in a predetermined relative position with respect to the position of the work holder and a tracer provided with a carrying member so supported as to be maintained in a predetermined relative position with respect to the position of the tool holder and in which the tracer is movably mounted,

said templet and the tracer carrying member being relatively movable in two dilferent directionsin the same plane, one movement corresponding to one feed and the other corresponding to the other feed, and a movable indicating element operatively connected to the tracer.

10. In combination with a metal working machine having a work holder wherein the tool holder reciprocates relative to the work and wherein the work holder has a feed in one direction and a tool holder feed at right anglesthereto whereby a facing out can be taken over the surface of the work, a profiling attachment comprising a templet, means for maintaining the templet in a predetermined relative position with respect to the position of the work holder, a tracer provided with a carrier, said tracer being movably mounted in said carrier, means for maintaining the carrier in a predetermined relative position with respect to the position of the tool holder in its movements toward and from the work, feed mechanism for the tool holder, and means controlled by the tracer for operating the feed mechanism.

11. In combination with a machine tool havin a work holder and a tool holder wherein the tool holder reciprocates relative to the work and wherein the work holder has a feed in one direction and the tool holder a feed at right angles thereto whereby a facing out can be takenover the surface of the work, a profiling attachment comprising atemplet, means for maintaining the same in a position which has a definite relation to the position of the work holder, a carrier having a tracer movably mounted therein, means for maintaining the carrier in a position which has a definite relation to the position of the tool holder in its movements toward and from the work, and electrically operated means controlled by the tracer for operating the tool holder feed.

12. In combination with a machine tool having a work holder with a feed therefor and a reciprocating tool holder with a feed at right angles to the feed of the work holder, a profiling attachment comprising a templet and tracer, means for causing the templet to move in having a work holder with a teed therefor and a reciprocating tool holder with a feed at right angles to the feed of the work holder, a profiling attachment comprising a templet and tracer carrying member having a tracer movably 'mounted therein, means for causing the templet to move in accordance with the feed of the work holder, means whereby the tracer carrying member has a movement corresponding to the feed of the tool holder,

' and electrically operated means controlled by the tracer for operating the tool holder feed.

14. In combination with a machine tool having a work holder, a tool holder which reciprocates and is adapted to be given a feed in a direction at ri ht angles to its line of reciprocation and eed mechanism for the tool holder, a profiling attachment comprising a templet and a tracer co-operating therewith, means for causing the templet to have a movement corresponding to the feed of the work holder, a tracer support movable with the tool holder when the tool holder feed is actuated, and means responsive to the engagement of the tracer with the templet for automatically operating the tool 7 holder feed mechanism.

15. In combination with a machine tool having a work holder and a tool holder which reciprocates and is adapted to be given a feed in a direction at right angles to its line of reciprocation, a profiling attachment comprising a templet having a definite relation to the position of the work' holder and a tracer co-operating therewith, means for causing the templet to have a movement corresponding to the feed of the work holder, and electrically operated means controlled 2y (ghe tracer for operating the tool holder 16a In combination with a machine tool having a work holder and a reciprocating tool holder with a feed at right angles to the direction of reciprocation, a profiling attachment comprising a templet having a definite position with respect to the work holder and a tracer co-opera'ting therewith, means for supporting the tracer comprising a tracer carrying member, a guide therefor by which said member may move in the direction of feed of the tool holder, a bar attached to the tool holder so as to have movements corresponding to the reciprocating and feed movements of the tool holder, said bar slidingly engaging the tracer supporting member, and means "responsive to the engagement of the tracer with the templet for. automatically operating the tool holder feed.

17. In combination with a machine toolhaving a work holder and a reciprocating tool holder with a feed at. right angles to the direction of reciprocation, a profiling at-.

tachment comprising a templet having a definite position with respect to the work holder and a tracer co-operating therewith, and means for supporting the tracer comprising a tracer carrying member, a guide therefor by which said member may move in the direction ofv feed of the tool holder, and a bar attached to the tool holder so as to have movements corresponding to the reciprocat-.

JOHN M. RIORDAN. 

